Chapter 2
A long day
Puck's POV
"Are you sure?" I asked.
"Positive. I know it anywhere." He nodded.
"She's younger than you so I must have taken you with me, but I… Oh no." My jaw fell as I remembered.
"What is it?" Alex asked.
"I was teaching you healing magic and I saved a baby's life." I said.
"Oberon's law." Alex scoffed.
"Alex, you don't understand. That baby was supposed to die that night. She was so close to death. I enticed her soul to stay. Her magic is keeping her alive. When it dies, she does too." I explained.
"How do we make it stronger?" He asked.
"We have to train her." I said.
"Puck?" He looked at me.
"Yes?" I looked at him.
"We need to have to Lord Oberon alter the bounds to your punishment." He said. "I have college and she has no way to defend herself right now."
"We'll do it in a little bit. She needs to have some time to adjust before we drop this on her." I told him.
"Right. So, what are you teaching me tonight?" Alex asked.
I smiled.
Puck's POV End
Talia's POV
"Talia, breakfast time." Owen called through the door.
"Ugh." I grunted.
I lied in bed for a few minutes before getting up and dressed. I walked out and Owen was still there. I followed him to the dining room and sat down.
"Thank you, Owen. Talia, eat your breakfast. We're going to leave in a little bit." David sipped his coffee.
"Where's the rat poison? I wanna start my day off right." I asked.
"I have a strict no-rat-poison-for-breakfast policy." David said casually.
"Hmm." I hummed as I chewed my toast. Breakfast was toast and eggs.
"Alex, how's school going?" Fox asked.
"It's good." He said.
I zoned out after that and finished my breakfast. Then we went down to the limo and Owen drove us to the high end part of town. We got out and there were people already taking pictures.
"Stay close, Talia. I know someone will try and "interview" you." David said.
"About… Oh." I frowned.
"Let's get inside." Fox said and we went in the store.
It turned out to be a dress store. I scowled. Alex laughed.
"Talia, we have charity events and parties to go to." David said.
"That's your problem." I said.
"I adopted you." He reminded me.
"Your son-" I gestured to Alex.
"Your brother." David frowned.
"He's going to take over the business, isn't he? Let's face it, you gave me your name for nothing. I'm just a failure. I'm not a good investment at all." I told him while trying to find a way around Alex and Owen. They made a strange wall. One was a lean, suited man, the other was a buff, spoiled rich kid.
"You've had a rough start-" David said.
I scoffed.
"But that doesn't mean you're a failure. You're 16. You're young. There's still time." He finished.
I kept quiet.
"Being suicidal isn't your fault, Tai." Alex said softly.
"You don't know shit." I crossed my arms.
"It's not your fault." He repeated.
I frowned and looked away. Alex hugged me. I didn't try to pull away. This hug wasn't of a teasing nature. He actually wanted to comfort me.
"Do I have a "Hug me" sign taped to me?" I asked dryly after a minute.
"I can't help it. You're tiny and cute." He cooed.
"I'm not tiny." I huffed, trying to keep my frown intact as Fox and David watched us.
"You keep telling yourself that, Tai." Alex smirked.
"Whatever, rich boy." I said snarkily.
"If you two are done cuddling, we have dresses to shop for." David smiled at us.
I shoved Alex away and shoved my face into the nearest rack to hide my blush. "David's just teasing you, Talia." Fox called.
"I guessed that." I mumbled.
"Talia, those dresses are for taller women." Owen told me.
"Thanks, Owen." I sighed and went back to the Xanatoses.
I tried on lots of dresses. Everyone agreed it was best if I didn't show too much skin. That narrowed it down a little. Fox decided simple but elegant was the best choice. I agreed and we got the ones I liked. David would have them delivered.
When we left the store, the news had spread that the Xanatoses were having a day out and the paparazzi swarmed us. Owen got in front and pushed them out of the way. I was shoved in the middle.
"Mister Xanatos, Mister Xanatos! Is it true that your daughter, Talia, attempted suicide?" Someone asked.
"No comment." He said.
"Mister Xanatos, is she here with you today?" Another asked.
I looked at Alex and he shrugged.
"Alexander! How do you feel about having a sister?" Someone else shouted.
As we walked, some fans had the guts to grab at us. One of them scratched me. "Ow!"
"Was that Talia?" A cameraman asked.
We got in the limo and Owen drove off.
"Someone scratched me." I frowned.
"Where? Let me see." Fox looked at my arm. "Oh, David, look at this. She's bleeding."
I saw my arm was an irritated red and the scratches were bloody.
"Are you sure it was a person?" Alex asked.
"It couldn't have been anything else." I frowned.
"David, you have enough. Help me." Fox scolded him.
"I need these for evidence. C'mere, Talia." He wiped my scratches with alcohol wipes.
"Ow." I hissed.
"You'll be fine, kiddo." David told me.
"You sound evil when you say kiddo." I told him.
"What?" He asked.
"Is that the voice Goliath insisted you had when you guys didn't get along?" Alex asked his dad.
"What has Goliath been telling you?" David looked at his son.
"David, finish cleaning Talia's scratches." Fox reminded him.
He finished what he was doing and bandaged my arm. "I want ice cream. I got hurt, and I never would have if you hadn't adopted me so gimme ice cream."
"She has a point." Alex said.
"… Owen, what's open right now?" He asked.
"There's McDonald's-" Owen started.
"No, Owen, we're not going to McDonald's ever again." David frowned.
I looked at Alex. "There was something in his burger. He won the lawsuit."
"Of course he did." I said.
"Talia, you're getting a milkshake. What flavor do you want?" David asked.
"Uh, chocolate." I said.
"I'll be right back, sir." Owen got out of the car.
We waited and after a few minutes, he came back with my milkshake. I took it and sipped it. It wasn't all frozen so I could actually drink it. Then we stopped at a store so I could have more clothes. I had the weirdest feeling that people were watching me as I picked out clothes. I didn't like it.
"Talia, where are you?" Fox asked.
I was picking out jeans. Right in front of her. What did she mean "where was I?"
"Alex, did you make her invisible?" She turned to her son.
"What, no. Why would I?" He frowned.
"Then where did she go?" She asked.
"I don't know. Maybe she went somewhere else." He snapped.
"I'm right here." I said.
"Talia! Where did you go?" Fox scolded.
"I was over there." I pointed to the jeans.
"Hmm." Alex hummed.
"Stay where we can see you." She reprimanded me.
"Ok." I said.
After we got all the clothes David allowed, we were going to pay when I saw a stuffed fox. It was cute.
"What you lookin' at, Tai?" Alex asked, smiling.
"Nothin'." I said.
"Really? Because I think you were looking at something, over there." He walked over and I tried to stop him, but he just dragged me along. "Are you even trying to stop me? I don't think you are."
"I am too." I hooked my foot around his leg and made him stumble off course.
"You're no gargoyle, that's for sure." He laughed and continued on.
"If I squeeze your tummy, will you laugh?" I asked.
"That's a weird way to ask to hug someone." He smiled.
"That's not what I asked." I told him.
He just kept quiet and grinned as we got to the section where the fox was. He hummed and looked over the toys. "Was it… this one?" He pulled the toy next to the fox. "Hmm, no? What about this one?" He pulled the other one next to it.
I realized he wouldn't stop until I told him what I wanted and I saw some cute girls coming. "I want the fox."
"What was that?" Alex smiled.
"I want the fox!" I said through my teeth.
"This fox?" He picked it up.
"Yes, that fox!" I tried to grab it.
"Why didn't you say so?" He asked, still smiling.
"Yeah, ok, whatever. Let's go." I knew they were getting closer.
"We better not keep Mom and Dad waiting." He agreed.
He walked as slow as possible and he had an iron grip on my hand. I was going to get seen holding Alex's hand! I sighed and gave up.
"You're giving up like that?" Alex asked.
I smirked and took my hand back. He smiled and nuzzled me. "Ah, no! Stop!"
"You're a little trickster, aren't you?" He asked happily.
"I made a mistake!" I cried.
"No, you didn't. I can't wait to tell Mom and Dad how you tricked me." He picked me up and carried back to them. The girls giggled as they passed us.
"I can't win." I sighed.
"There you are. We were about send Owen after you two." David smiled.
"She tricked me!" Alex announced.
"She did?" Owen raised an eyebrow. I didn't think he was capable of that.
"I just feigned hopelessness and got him to loosen his grip on my hand. Not that it did me any good." I frowned.
"That's quite an accomplishment, Talia." Fox smiled.
"A little worrying that you can feign such an emotion so easily." David thought.
"Like you don't lie through your teeth all day." I rolled my eyes.
"Oh, she wanted this fox." Alex put it in the cart.
David looked at it and smiled at me. What was so… Oh, I get it. Damn it. He paid for the clothes and the fox. Alex gave me the fox as we walked outside. Like before, there were paparazzi waiting for us. Unlike before, they could see me now and they were trying to get me to look at them.
"Talia, Talia!" Someone yelled.
"Don't look at them." Alex whispered.
"Do you think I like having to smell your Axe?" I asked.
"Alexander, why are you carrying your sister?" Another person shouted.
"Talia, do you like living with the Xanatoses?" Someone else asked.
"Talia, did Alexander bully you into letting him carry you?" A female voice asked.
"Excuse me?" David stopped.
"Nicky Johnson with Girl Power magazine. Now, Talia, be honest,-" She started.
"No." I said.
"What?" She asked.
"He didn't bully me. That was your question, wasn't it?" I asked.
"Yes, but…" She frowned.
"Nope, that was your turn." I told her before hiding my face again.
All the paparazzi were clamoring for my attention now. We got to the limo and got in. I sighed and slumped in my seat. "Hey, David."
"Yes?" He asked.
"Can I have plastic surgery?" I asked.
"No." He frowned.
"Owen, crash the car." I called up front.
"Talia, there is nothing you can do that will make me even consider endangering you." Owen told me.
I pouted and reevaluated my options. I had to get out of Manhattan, that was a given. Or die quickly. It was going to be hard with my new last name. This was so much easier when I was homeless.
"Talia, you're my daughter now." David said. "I know you're upset right now, but you're a Xanatos. You just don't see it yet." He smiled.
"Whatever." I said.
He took us out to a Chinese place for lunch and it was good. After lunch, we went and I got a new phone. Then we went home. I cut all the tags off my new clothes and charged my phone. I basically had nothing to do until dinnertime.
"C'mon, Tai, let's go to the game room." Alex called from the hall.
"You have a game room?" I asked, looking out into the hall.
"Of course we do." He smiled.
"I forgot you're rich." I followed him. Playing games was better than nothing.
"Stop talking about me like we're strangers." He said.
"Bitch, this is the first time we've spent time together." I reminded.
"And stop swearing, little princess. It's unbecoming." He said.
"Again with the princess! Just because you were born with a sliver spoon in your mouth, doesn't mean you're a prince." I frowned.
"I'm not prince because of our parent's wealth; I'm prince because of our grandmother." He smirked.
"… I'm pretty sure that title stops at you. I'm not related to you." I wasn't going to argue about the unfairness about it.
"And Dad adopted you so I'm your big brother now and you're my little sister." Alex opened the door to a room and there was a bunch of consoles hooked up to a TV facing a couch.
"You don't act like a big brother." I sat on the couch.
"How so?" He turned on the Xbox and picked up the controller.
"Big brothers don't dote on their sisters. They usually ignore them or tease them. And you are very huggy. Like I don't think I've ever been hugged so much in one day." I said.
"Why would I ignore you?" He asked.
"I dunno. Because you're bored of me." I shrugged.
"You're too cute to ignore, Tai." He smiled and pulled me closer to him so he could kiss the top of my head. "Even when you're pouting. I like my version of a big brother better."
"I'm so glad we're not in public right now." I jabbed him with my elbow. "Hey, go to Youtube for a minute."
"Why?" He let me go.
"I wanna see something." I said.
"Ok…" He did what I said.
I typed in my name and hit search. Videos from the morning appeared with titles like "First sighting of Talia Xanatos" and "Super cute: Alex Xanatos hugging his sister Talia Xanatos."
"Oh yeah. People are probably going crazy now that they've finally seen you." Alex said, clicking on "Super cute: Alex Xanatos hugging his sister Talia Xanatos."
It was of us at the store when Alex tried to embarrass me. I pulled my hand away and then it zoomed in on Alex nuzzling me. The person behind the camera "aww-ed". Then it zoomed out as they got closer and Alex picked me up. It ended after a bit of squealing that Alex was being cute.
"I can't wait to see the fan art of you carrying other girls." I snarked.
"Oh, there's already some. But there's probably going to a revival now." He exited Youtube and went to his game.
"How many do you think I'll be in?" I asked.
"I dunno. Probably some. They've been drawing me for years." He looked at me. "You're lucky, kiddo. Your childhood wasn't on the news."
"But the rest of my life is." I said.
"It'll be fine. Hey, wanna go see the Clan wake up? Now now, but in a bit." Alex smiled.
"Sure." I answered.
I ended up playing with him and I was getting good when his watch beeped. "Oh, it's time. We won't make it if we walk, but…" He smiled as his eyes glowed green and suddenly, we were on a turret.
"When the fuck did I get this coat?" I looked at the tan trench coat that was on me.
"Just a minute ago. Shh, sunset's almost over." Alex smiled.
I walked over to, I think it was Goliath, yup I was right. It started to rain and thunder. I peered over the side and saw the other gargoyles farther down. Cracking stone caught my attention and I looked at Goliath. His eyes glowed white and he stretched, shedding all the stone skin, and roared. I heard other roars below us.
"Talia?" Goliath asked, looking at me.
"Alex brought me." I explained.
"I see." He hummed and I felt it in my chest.
"Talia, Goliath. Goliath, my little sister, Talia." He stepped out from behind.
I shot him a look. He smirked.
"It's nice to meet you again, Talia." Goliath said.
"Again?" I asked.
"I caught you when you jumped off the building." He explained.
"I was kinda poisoned then so forgive me if I don't remember." I smiled.
Goliath looked at Alex. "She had bleach in her system."
I was about to quip "Not enough" but the tall gargoyle seemed horrified as it was. Did gargoyles not… Most animals don't commit suicide, nevermind.
"Goliath, what's taking- Oh, hey, Alex." A red gargoyle flew up and landed next to him.
"Brooklyn, this is Talia. Alexander's new sister." He gestured to me.
"Hi." I said.
"Nice to meet you." He said.
"Let's go meet the others before they leave." Alex told me.
"'Kay." I looked over the side and all the gargoyles had gone somewhere.
"Talia." Alex frowned.
"I wasn't gonna jump." I walked over to him.
"It's too soon." He said and we went to the others.
There was a light brown gargoyle watching TV with a blue dog beast lying beside him. The dog sniffed the air and walked up to Alex, asking for pets.
"Hey, Bronx." He rubbed Bronx's ears.
"Alex?" The gargoyle in the chair asked.
"It's me, Hudson. I'm home." He answered. "Go say hi to Hudson, kiddo."
"I'm not that old, Alex. Who's this lass?" Hudson got up and walked up to us. Bronx whined and I petted him. He licked my arm.
"Talia." I said as Alex said "My little sister."
"This is Xanatos's new daughter, Talia." Goliath interjected.
"Ah. Your eyes, they're unusual, lass." Hudson squinted.
"They've always had splotches of brown in them." I said.
"Hudson's right. The green looks…" Brooklyn trailed off and I looked at Alex. He smiled at me.
"What?" I asked.
"It's nothing, kiddo." He lied.
"You're just like your dad." I said.
"You mean like a manipulative schemer or an amoral businessman?" Brooklyn asked.
"Hmm, it's more like amoral, manipulative scheming businessman." I smiled.
Alex frowned.
"I welcome you to your legacy." I mockingly bowed to him. "You have some work to do."
"She's teasing you, Alexander." Goliath reassured him.
"I know. You're ruthless, Tai." He told me.
I smiled.
"I think Dad made the right choice." He smiled back at me.
My face fell.
"Business isn't really my thing. It's not in my veins." I said.
"What do you like to do?" He asked.
I wondered whether to answer seriously or not. Before I could, more gargoyles came in. A fat one, a purple female, a… A lot of them.
"Hey, Goliath." The fat one waved and went to the kitchen.
"Broadway, come back." He said.
"Uh, sure." Broadway paused.
"What is it, Father?" The purple one asked.
"Alex wanted his sister to meet you all." He said.
"Talia?" Lexington asked.
"Yes." Goliath rumbled.
"Hey." I waved.
The purple one walked up to me. "I'm Angela. Goliath is my father. Broadway is my mate."
"Neat." I shook her hand.
"Hi, Talia." Broadway smiled.
I smiled back at him.
"That's my mate, Katana, my son, Nashville, and our daughter, Tachi. She's 8 years old in human years." Brooklyn told me.
"Call me Nash." The blue male with the sword said.
"Kay." I said.
"You forgot Fu-Dog." Tachi told him.
"He'll meet her later. It's a little crowded in here." Brooklyn told her.
"Hey, Talia." Lexington waved.
"Hey." I waved back.
"Alexander, Talia, your father wishes you to come to dinner." Owen spoke up from behind the clan.
"Sorry, Owen. I wanted her to meet the clan." Alex said.
"It's alright." The blond said.
"Have a good night, guys." He smiled.
"Uh, bye." I followed them to the dining room.
Talia's POV End
